Gregory Kiro 24 is a versatile daypack with a uniquely comfy hip belt
This review is sponsored by REI Co-op
The new-for-2025 Gregory Kiro 24 backpack is a non-technical hiking daypack most notable for its wide, stretchy hip belt, and is clearly designed to compete with the popular Osprey Daylite Plus series. We tested Kiro 24 while day hiking, air traveling, road tripping, and exploring national parks, and ultimately found it to be comfy and versatile. It’s at its best in situations when the hip belt is being worn.
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- Price: $110
- Weight: 24.6 oz
- Volume: 24L
- Materials: Nylon 210d – 420d (~40% recycled)
- Back Panel: Perforated 3D foam
- Peer Group Competitors: Osprey Daylite Plus, Osprey Talon 22/Tempest 22, REI Co-op Flash 22
- Gregory Kiro Versions: 20L, 24L, 28L
- Pros: Comfiest daypack hip belt. Lightweight. Versatile. Useful external pockets.
- Cons: Only one side bottle pocket. Hip belt is non-detachable, dangles heavily when not in-use.
Compare this to more great options in our guide to ultralight daypacks. If you prefer Gregory Packs, don’t miss our review of the Gregory Paragon 60.
Expanded Pros: The Good Stuff
Comfy Hip Belt: The signature “Cloud Control” hip belt is soft, stretchy, wide, and feels better to wear than traditional nylon webbing hip belts found on models like REI Co-op Flash 22 and Osprey Daylite Plus. It is less prone to digging in or “biting,” compared to those, and can be strapped down tighter for a more athletic fit to help reduce bounce and sway while striding. It is perhaps comparably comfortable to the plush foam hip belts commonly found on backpacking packs, but in a different way. If you’ve had trouble with daypack hip belts in the past, Kiro 24 could be the solution. Notably, this hip belt is not without downside, so keep scrolling to the cons section read about drawbacks.
Lightweight: Weighing in at just ~1.5 pounds, the Gregory Kiro 24 is fairly lightweight. It’s nearly a pound lighter than Osprey Talon 22/Tempest 22, half a pound heavier than REI Co-op Flash 22, and similar to Osprey Daylite Plus. It hits a sweet spot in weight and bulk for the hiking daypack genre.
Versatile: We found the Gregory Kiro 24 to be highly versatile, equally suited to all-day hiking as it is to road trip adventures, urban exploration, and flight-based adventure travel.
Good Value: While not inexpensive, Kiro 24 offers a lot for just over $100, in addition to being well-made and built to last. It’s more expensive than its primary competitor, Osprey Daylite Plus, but this is likely explained by the fancy hip belt design.
Expanded Cons: The Not So Good
Hip belt is bulky when not in use, cannot be stowed or detached: While the hip belt is comfy and great for movement as promised, it is definitely a drawback when you don’t need/want to wear it, say for short errands around the city. The thick straps and large buckle cannot be stowed nor removed temporarily. Removing it permanently involves cutting it off, which would defeat the primary purpose of choosing this pack in the first place. This could have very easily been resolved with a double g-hook gatekeeper. The lack thereof is such an obvious design mistake that it makes me question whether Gregory’s designers are aware of all of the tools at their disposal.
Only one side bottle pocket: Given that this backpack is designed primarily for hiking, we think it’s odd (and a downside) that they chose to only include one side water bottle pocket, when two is industry-standard, nearly universal. Where the right side bottle pocket should be is a vertical zipper pocket. We can imagine storing knickknacks or minimalist rain shell in here, but it isn’t large enough for a hard sided bottle.
Furthermore, the bottle pocket it does have is slanted forward, which makes the reach back and grab maneuver easier to accomplish, but the bottle is more likely to slide out while you bend over, say to tie a shoe.
Who Should Choose Gregory Kiro 24
Who Should Choose It
- You’re seeking a versatile hiking daypack primarily for use on-trail that flexes well into travel, casual adventures, and everyday carry
- You intend to use the comfy, soft, stretchy hip belt most of the time, and find traditional nylon webbing strap belts to be uncomfortable
Who Should Avoid It
- You don’t intend to wear the hip belt very often; when not worn, its dangles bulkily and cannot be removed
- You want a more casual daypack, primarily for travel and everyday carry that can flex into hiking; this is more of a hiking pack that flexes into other use cases
- You want a pack that is designed purely for hiking without any consideration towards urban use or versatility; Gregory Kiro is more of a hybrid
Gregory Kiro 24 vs its Peers
Gregory Kiro 24 vs Osprey Daylite Plus
Based on the design, Gregory Kiro 24’s most obvious competitor is the Osprey Daylite Plus. They are approximately the same size and weight, with similar features and overall aesthetic. The advantages of the Gregory Kiro is that it has a soft, comfy, stretchy hip belt that is designed to be worn. The advantages of the Daylite Plus are that it’s a bit less expensive, has two side bottle pockets, uses more sustainable (100% recycled vs 40%) materials, and its hip belt can be stowed or removed when not desired.
Gregory Kiro 24 vs REI Co-op Flash 22
The REI Co-op Flash 22 is a well-featured ultralight daypack that is significantly lighter weight and less expensive than the Gregory Kiro 24, but built with less structure, less durability, and a significantly less comfortable hip belt. The Gregory is more versatile, longer lasting, and offers a superior user experience in a majority of cases. Flash 22 is preferable from an ultralight perspective, and makes for a better secondary travel pack when you want a collapsible stow-able pack, but comes off a bit floppy and loose due to the thinner materials.
Gregory Kiro 24 vs Osprey Talon 22/Tempest 22
Osprey M’s Talon and W’s Tempest, some of the most popular daypacks in existence, are also an interesting comparison to the Gregory Kiro 24. In short, the Kiro is less expensive, much lighter weight, and more versatile (for travel/EDC/etc), while the Talon/Tempest are 100% designed for hiking and better at it, with little-to-no consideration for other use cases. As such, Talon and Tempest have a much more technical feature set, including winged hip belt pockets, a stiffened back panel, and load lifters. Both packs have comfy hip belts, and which is comfier may depend on your body shape and whether you like the soft stretch or larger padded areas.
Gregory Kiro 24 Vs Kiro 20 vs Kiro 28
We think the 24L Kiro is the most well-rounded size and easily the best and most versatile choice for most people. If you primarily hike in cold environments and go on longer hikes while carrying a puffy jacket and a fleece and a full set of rain gear, choose the Kiro 28. If you primarily hike in warm environments and don’t need many, if any, extra layers, choose the Kiro 20. Otherwise, just choose the Kiro 24.
Gregory Kiro 24 Review Conclusion
The Gregory Kiro 24 is a versatile hiking daypack that blurs the line into adventure travel and everyday carry. It is functional and comfortable, but not flawless. How strongly we recommend this pack is largely based on how often you intended to wear the soft, stretchy, wide, comfy hip belt (as opposed to letting it dangle unbuckled). Happy hiking!
